The Religious Studies Program

Admission:

Admission to the interdepartmental degree program in religious studies requires a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0.

The Major :

If admitted to the interdepartmental degree program in religious studies, the student will be required to satisfactorily complete 42 hours of coursework. Of these 42 hours, 24 are in religious studies, six in Biblical studies, six in the history of religions, six in contemporary religious thought, three in mythology and religion, and RELG 494. (Students who wish to use RELG 494 to fulfill this requirement must complete 12 hours of religious studies courses before registering for RELG 494). The other 18 hours fulfill requirements outside the program in religious studies. The following three-hour courses are required: SOCA 336, HIST 201 and 203, and PHIL 308. Six hours of American and/or English literature are also required. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in the required coursework in order to retain status as an interdepartmental major in religious studies.

The Minor :

Any student may undertake a minor in religious studies. Fifteen hours of course work offered by the Program for Religious Studies must be completed, a total of at least nine hours at the upper-level (300-level or above). A GPA of at least 2.0 is required in order to fulfill the requirements of this minor.

Specifically, the course requirements for the minor in religious studies are as follows: one course in each of the four groups below including RELG 494, which is a seminar on a selected topic in religious studies; and one additional course in religious studies, subject to the requirement that at least nine hours be completed at the upper level.

Group 1: Studies in the History of Religion: RELG 102, 219, 222, 230, 231, 232

Group 2: Studies in Sacred Texts: RELG 303, 304

Group 3: Studies in Religious Thought: RELG 350

Group 4: Seminar Course: RELG 494

It is the responsibility of students minoring in religious studies to maintain close contact with the office of the Program for Religious Studies concerning the scheduling of the above courses.